canyons fan out from this canyon. Use the one that is straight ahead. It has a notch at its head and part way up a bushy shelf can be made out running along the left side of the main gully in this canyon. Use this shelf as much as possible. When the notch is reached at the upper end of the canyon, climb out on the right side and ascend the ridge ahead veering for saddle slightly to the right. Once in the saddle, the summit cairn is easily seen. Climbing time 3-1/2 hrs. The rock climbing route is actually shorter, but the time required depends largely on the number in the party. Comparing notes between the hikers and climbers, a total of six sheep were seen on the mountain. Lunch fires were kept ablaze in an effort to keep down the cold of the snow flurries on the summit. Upon returning to camp, we were throughly refreshed by punch and cake served by Walt and Bernice Heninger. This is certainly the way to finish any hike. The Kingston Mtns., Jan 1. After the Kofa. climb, Fritz Sloman, Dorothy Campbell, and Leroy Arnold drove about 150 miles north to the Kingston Mtn. Monday morning they started climbing from Tecopa Pass on the north side of the mountains. They didn't get started climbing till late in the morning, so only ascended the peak several thousand feet above the road. But this gave them a view of the actual peak 4 walking miles away along a rough boulder strewn ridge with many ups and downs. Fritz said the area was quite thick with Pinyon also. He thought it might be easier to climb the peak from the southeast even though it is necessary to gain more elevation. Rabbit Peak- a weekend or two before Christmas, Marie and Eleanor Smith and Fritz Slomen climbed Rabbit Peak in the Santa Rosas. Their route was by the south ridge. Drive east on the Truckhaven road, in Borego valley, to within about a mile or so of the end of a long prominent ridge running southward from Rabbit. Use the crest of this ridge, all the way. Pyramid Peak- December 24. This is the high point of the Funeral Mtns. The people with whom I have talked who made the climb have the highest of praise for the interest and splendid views of Death Valley. They stated that it appeared to be a rock climb except for the route they used. The following account is by Walter Heninger of this climb by Bob Bear, Fritz Sloman, Toni Gamero, Ruth and Frank Ferro, and Walt and Bernice Heninger. They camped at the "132 Headed Cactus" which is 10 miles west of Death Valley Junction and eight miles east of Furnace Creek Inn, and just about a hundred yards south of the main highway. We should have driven north across the desert from this point toward, the low point in the pass, just east of Pyramid Peak. Looking northward from our camping place, the highest point seen actuallyisthe summit of Pyramid Peak. With good binoculars the tripod can be seen on the mountain top. We believe that the following is the most practical route. From our camp, looking almost due north, just to the left of the pass, one can see an outcropping of light colored rock or dirt. Head up the canyon aiming to strike the ridge just to the left of this white outcropping. Don't let yourself be tempted to take a "short cut" up one of the side canyons to the left until you have almost reached the white formation. From the point where you strike the ridge (to the west of the white rock) the best route is very clear. Just keep to the ridge. Very little elevation will be lost during the climb. The summit was slightly to the right of where we expected to find it during the first part of our climb. All agreed that, without lowering their standard, the DPS could add to their list of qualifying climbs the name of Pyramid Peak. Eagle Mtns. - December 26 to 29. Margie and I were chaperons for an outing to Cottonwood Springs by the UCLA hiking Club. Also there as guests were 6 members of the Cal. Hiking Club at the Berkeley Campus. The group from UCLA consisted of 20. Wednesday, they were given instruction in how to use a rope properly, on some excellent practice rocks about 1 mile north east of Cottonwood Springs. Thursday, however, was the real climb. We rolled out at at 3:30 A.M., and were on our way by 5:00, with 21 aboard for the complete trip and two others who were going only to Lost Palms. The moonlight and later sunrise were exhilerating. Lost Palms was reached just at sunrise.

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